Wells Fargo, along with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, today announced the standings for fall sports in the Wells Fargo Cup competitions for the 2012-13 academic year.

The Wells Fargo Cup is sponsored by Wells Fargo and the NCHSAA. The award recognizes the high schools that achieve the best overall interscholastic athletic performance within each of the state’s four competitive classifications. The Cup program is in its 34th year.

Defending champion Cary Green Hope sits atop the 4-A standings with Charlotte Ardrey Kell in second place, while defending Cup champion Cardinal Gibbons paces the 3-A class. Carrboro, which won its first Wells Fargo Cup last year, holds the top position among 2-A schools, and Lake Norman Charter is in first place in the 1-A classification standings for the first time, ahead of perennial power Hendersonville.

Green Hope, which claimed both the 4-A men's soccer state title and the women's cross country crown while also finishing in the top four in women's dual team tennis and third in women's golf, tallied 212.5 points to hold a slim five-point advantage over Ardrey Kell. Kell won the state 4-A volleyball title and also took first in women's golf to go with points in women's tennis and women's cross country.

Raleigh Broughton, which captured state crowns in both women's tennis and men's cross country, is in third place with 175 points, while Southern Pines Pinecrest (165) is fourth and Fayetteville Jack Britt (125) is fifth.

Cardinal Gibbons had another terrific fall season in 3-A with playoff points in six different sports, including state titles in volleyball, women's cross country and men's cross country. The Crusaders earned a total of 300 points, ahead of second-place Charlotte Catholic's 217.5.

Catholic's fall total, with points in five sports, included state championships in women's dual team tennis and a runner-up performance in the state football championships.

Waxhaw Marvin Ridge is in third with 190 points, followed by Chapel Hill (147.5) and Northern Guilford (127.5), the 3-AA football champion.

Carrboro rolled up 252.5 points to open up a substantial lead over Cuthbertson, in second at 187.5. Carrboro had a great fall with playoff points in five sports, including a women's cross country championship and state runner-up finishes in both men's soccer and football. The Jaguars dueled with Cuthbertson in some of those championships, too; Cuthbertson won the men's soccer crown, beating Carrboro, and finished second to Carrboro in the women's cross-country meet.

Perennial contender Salisbury is third with 172.5 points, followed by South Iredell (150), which won the 2-AA football crown, and North Surry (127.5).

In the 1-A classification, Lake Norman Charter leads the way after finishing second in both men's soccer and men's cross country and third in women's cross country as part of its total of 232.5 points.

Hendersonville, which has won the most Cups all-time with 13, is in second with 195 points. Bearcat teams fared especially in volleyball, golf and men's soccer, winning a state championship in volleyball, placing first among 1-A teams in women's golf, and getting to the state semifinals in men's soccer.

Kernersville Bishop McGuinness is third with 175 points, boosted by sweeping both cross country state championships. Southwest Onslow, which captured state titles in both football and men's soccer, is fourth at 155 points and Franklin Academy fifth with 130.

Wells Fargo Cup points are determined by a system based on performance in state championship events. All schools that finish in the top eight positions (plus ties) earn points. In the playoff events involving teams from more than one classification, Wells Fargo Cup points are awarded based on the school’s standing against other schools in its own classification. If fewer then eight schools from a classification compete in a sport, only those schools that are represented are eligible to receive the Wells Fargo Cup points.

Points are awarded for all sports as follows: 50 for first, 45 for second, 40 for third, 35 for fourth, 30 for fifth, 25 for sixth, 20 for seventh and 15 for eighth. In the event of a tie, the schools receive an equal number of points based on the number of teams that tie and the number of teams that finish higher in the standings. Five points are awarded for each sanctioned sport in which a school competes.

Wells Fargo Cup standings are announced three times each school year: once after the fall, again after the winter sports, and then concluding with the winner after the spring sports season ends in June. The engraved silver cups are presented during NCHSAA Day activities at UNC-Chapel Hill each fall.